Hoyer Statement on Republicans' Energy and Water Appropriations Bill

Hoyer Statement on Republicans' Energy and Water Appropriations Bill

WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today in opposition to Republicans' Energy and Water Appropriations bill:

“The fiscal year 2014 Energy and Water Appropriations bill that Republicans brought to the Floor this week takes the wrong approach to budgeting and slashes critical energy and water infrastructure investments, which is why I opposed it. With a cut of $3.9 billion below last fiscal year’s post-sequester funding levels and $4.1 billion less than requested by the President, this bill would make it far more difficult to improve infrastructure in our rivers and harbors – as well as the Chesapeake Bay – and it would hamper the Administration’s planned investment in research and deployment of advanced energy technologies that promote job growth, cut costs to consumers, and help us achieve greater energy security.

“This bill proves what Democrats have known all along: that House Republicans’ plan from the start has been to pass widely popular security and veterans appropriations bills first with fewer cuts while paying for them later with deep and painful reductions to domestic programs. Their Energy and Water Appropriations bill represents their first attempt this year to enact their radical Ryan Budget, which seeks to achieve deficit savings on the backs of the most vulnerable and at the cost of supporting the creation of skilled jobs.

“I was deeply disappointed to see this bill pass. I hope the Senate will pass a version that is in line with the Budget Control Act and makes targeted savings while investing in job growth and clean energy development.”